How to Tell If a Pine Is Dead in Spearfish
Spearfish · Dead Tree Removal · Step 2 of 4
Spearfish Fact Bank
County Lawrence County
EAB status not yet confirmed
Population ~14,200 (2024 estimate)
Every fact cited
Needle color is the classic sign: green turning yellow then rust-red, usually starting in the crown. Pitch tubes on the trunk and small round exit holes are further confirmation of beetle activity. The scratch test works here too — green cambium tissue means the branch is alive, brown and dry means it’s dead.
Frequently Asked
01
Can a rust-colored pine in Spearfish still be saved?
Once needles have turned rust-red across a significant portion of the canopy, the tree is usually already dead or very close to it — that's typically a removal decision rather than a treatment one.